Apparatus for dyeing yarn



April 23, 1929. H. T. BALLARD APPARATUS FOR DYEING YARN Filed Nov. 5, 1924 Invenhw 171360Z lard atto: nu;

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING YARN.

Application filed November 5, 1924. Serial No. 747,985.

This invention relates to the subject of dyeing yarn used' in knitting operations to give a desired tint or cast to the finished fabric.

Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the so-called wool tint in the finished fabric manufactured from cotton yarn. That has been due not only to the inexperience or lack'of care of the dyer but principally to the at random methods employed for accomplishing the desired result. Therefore, it is the purpose of the present invention to correct the faulty methods heretofore employed in dyeing yarn, as well as to simplify the same so that the dyeing of the yarn may be accomplishedin a quick and economical manner and by the use of simple and inexpensive appliances. Furthermore, an important and primary object of the invention is entirely to obviate the streaky and non-uniform effects produced from yarn dyed by the old methods, and to substitute therefor a process or method that obtains a uniform dyeing of the yarn on the cone from. the outside to its core and at definitely spaced points so that as the yarn is drawn off of the cone or spool the dyed portions thereon will be at approximate y uniformly spaced intervals, resulting in a uniform striation in the finished fabric that greatly enhances its appearance.

While the invention necessarily is susceptible of being carried out in different ways without departing from the principle of dyeing involved, a simple and preferred manner of performing the process is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which z- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a cone or spool of yarn showing the ends of the cone of yarn dyed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the first step in the process to provide for the saturating of the bottom end of the yarn cone with the measured quantity of the liquid dye.

Fig. 3 'is a sectional view illustrating the second step in the process to provide for saturating the top end of the yarn cone with a measured quantity of the liquid die.

Fig. 4 is a graphie illustration of a dyed cone of yarn showing the yarn drawing off, in the usual manner, diagonally therefrom, with the result of pulling off spaced dyed portions from the dyed ends of the yarn cone.

Referring to the simple example of the invention shown in the drawings it will be observed that the same distinguishes from all former methods, and particularly from the method of injecting dye into thc cone at random, in the particular of providing for dyeing onlv the top and bottom ends of the cone of yarn. This is shown in Figs. l and 4 of the drawings wherein thc reference letter C designates the yarn cone having the yarn winding thereon, as usual, from top to bottom and from bottom to top of the cone,.the strand of yarn being designated by the refererence letter y. This yarn conc, as shown, is dyed only at its ends designated respectively by the reference numerals l and 2, the reference numeral 1' indicating the dyed bottoni end portion of the cone and the refer,- ence numeral 2 indicating the dyed top end portion of the cone.

To obtain the result of uniformly saturating the bottom and top end portions of the yarn cone with liquid dye, various expedients or appliances may be resorted to. One way of performing the necessary steps of the process is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings and referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that it is preferable, though not necessary, to operate first on the bottom or larger end of the yarn cone and to do that it is only necessary to invert the cone and rest the same on a table T or other suitable support and to place over the bottom end thereof a shallow distributing pan designated by the reference numeral 3. This distributing pan has af short upstanding flange 4 around its periphery and the bottom thereof is pierced with a number of drip holes 5 through which the liquid dye is discharged or directed into the bottom end of the yarn cone. To facilitate the uniform saturation of the bottom end of the yarn cone, with the appliance 3, the latter may conveniently be provided with a centrally located depending ivot projection 6 loosely fitting in the open ottom end of the usual core 7 for the cone or spool, and centrally at its upper side with a handle or knob 8 which is held in the lingers of the operator so that a slow spinning motion may be imparted to the pan or device 3 when the measured quantity of liquid dye (indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2) is poured into the pan by a measuring dipper or equivalent device 9. When the distributing pan 3 hasdischarged its liquid content of dye into the bottom end of the yarn cone, after a-very short interval the dye soaked bottom end of the cone will be sufficiently dry to permit of inverting the cone` on the table or` support to the position shown in Fig. 3, that 1s, with the top end'uppermost.

A It will be noted that, as usual, the bottom end of the yarn cone is more or less convexed and the distributing pan or device 3 is preferably of a slightly less diameter than the diameter of the. bottom endlof the cone to .insure proper distribution Without running the dye solution over the outside'of the cone. Also, as usual, the top end of the yarn cone is dished somewhat as shown in Fig. v3 With theclosed end of the cone core 7 projecting slightly through the center, making .a shalf loW Well into which the measured quantity of liquid dye is poured, the same being confined by aconical well-sleeve 10 which telescopically wedges over the top edge portion of the yarn cone. The dotted lline inFig. 3 Aindicates the level of the dye liquid poured into the sleeve 10 and the absorption of the dye at t-he top end of the yarn cone is substantially' uniform, in the same manner that vthe bottom end portion absorbs the dye from 'as ofsubstantially the sameextent andv shade of color. lThis is due to thel fact that the strand of yarn pulls off the cone diagonally from top to bottom andA from bottom to top vand picks up its dyed vportions only fromjthe ends of the cone, said dyed portions on lthe strand pulled off of the cone being designated by the reference letter z in Fig. 4 of thedrawlngs.

From the above it is thought that the in vention will be fully understood and also that the same is susceptible of being performed With apparatus of different kinds or Without special apparatus, Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

A device for dyeing yarn on the cone comprising a dye holding and distributing member for containing a measured quantity of ldye and'vvhich member is adapted tobe arranged over and is substantially coextensive in area with an end of the cone, said dye holding and distributing member beinglv provided With means for causing penetration of the dye stuff to a uniform depth in, and over the entire area of, the end or the cone.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.'

HERBERT THRoDoRE BALLARD. i 

